About me

With over 25 years of experience in multiple business sectors, I help businesses and agencies of all sizes create brands that make a difference.

Based in Bearsted in Maidstone, Kent, I work remotely to serve clients wherever they’re based. I offer expert design guidance and creative solutions that can help support your business.

Experience

Creative Director
Hue & Cry, London

Branding and communications projects for the food, drink and travel sectors. Clients included Beam Suntory, Carlsberg and Mount Gay.

Creative Director
Stepladder, London

Commercial and residential branding projects for the property sector. Clients included Berkeley Homes, Canary Wharf plc and Landsec.

Design Director
39 Degrees North, Beijing

Branding, motion design and animation projects for a wide range of clients, including BMW and Mercedes.

Art Director
G2 Studio, Beijing

Branding, print and digital projects for a wide range of clients, including Servier and Swire Hotels.

Senior Designer
Lenovo, Beijing

Branding and packaging projects for Lenovo’s International product line and cultural programmes.

Head of Design
Westside Group, London

Working from concept to completion on branding, print and digital projects for a wide range of clients from local retail to global fashion.

Clients

My approach

Firstly, I need to understand what makes you or your brand tick. I then tailor designs to fit your brand’s identity or your latest project perfectly.

By blending design with a successful strategy, your designs will be more than just visually appealing; they’ll effectively communicate your message and reach your target audience.

I focus on the details because they matter. I ensure everything is well-crafted and cohesive, providing you with polished and professional design.

In short, you’re getting designs that resonate with who you are, backed by strategic thinking, and executed with an eye for detail.

Process

– Initial meetings to understand your vision, goals, and challenges.
– Market research to analyse competitors and understand your target audience.
– Gathering creative inspiration that aligns with your brand ethos.
– Discussions to define key brand elements, such as mission, vision, values, and unique selling propositions.
– Developing a creative strategy that guides the design process.
– Creating a preliminary concept or mood board sets the design work's tone.
– Creating initial design drafts and concepts.
– Iterative refinement through client feedback and collaboration.
– Perfecting the design to ensure it aligns with the brand's identity and message.
– Finalising design assets and preparing them for various touchpoints.
– Implementing the design across digital, print, and other relevant platforms.
– Providing comprehensive brand guidelines for consistent application and future use.

Some nice words…

I really enjoyed working with Mark - he’s an extremely talented designer and Creative Director. He’s professional, thoughtful and diligent. We worked closely together on numerous projects and I always admired Marks desire to get stuck in and ensure the creative work was always of the highest standard. Mark is great at managing a large team across multiple projects and various creative challenges. He’s a great guy to work with and I hope to work with him again soon in the future.

— Laura Evans

Mark is an extremely talented Creative Director. I worked under Mark for two years and it completely changed my approach to design and strategy. I probably learned more in those two years than I’d done in my entire career to date at that point - from process, research, insights and creative concepts to forming brand languages, visual execution and copy writing. He is incredibly creative, knowledgeable, has a mean eye for detail and is always full of banter.

— Anders Godal

I had the pleasure of working with Mark at Stepladder. He is a real inspiration and a great Creative Director and mentor to any graphic designer. He brings experience, excitement, creativity and professionalism to every project and he always makes sure that every outcome responds to clients needs.

— Ana Resende

Mentoring for Graphic Designers

Are you starting a career in graphic design or looking to enhance your skills? My mentoring service is designed to provide guidance and support. With over 25 years of experience in the design industry, I offer personalised mentoring sessions tailored to your individual needs.

Whether you’re a student, an emerging designer, or an established creative seeking to broaden your expertise, I’m here to share practical advice, industry insights, and hands-on support to help you develop.

One-on-one sessions focused on your specific goals and challenges in graphic design.
Benefit from my extensive experience across multiple sectors, gaining insider knowledge to navigate the design world with confidence.
Receive practical tips and techniques to refine your design work, covering everything from foundational principles to advanced concepts.
Get advice on crafting a standout portfolio, networking effectively, and advancing in your graphic design career.